Health

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – On Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013, Sable Homes marketing manager and new home consultant, Karin Kay, paid a visit to Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids to deliver a $500 donation to the cancer and grief support organization.

The donation came in response to Sable Homes’ Facebook campaign, which pledged to donate $1 for every new "like" Sable Homes received during the month of November. On Dec. 3, #GivingTuesday, Sable announced $500 would be donated to Gilda’s Club. Daryl Vogel, vice president of development at Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids, accepted the check at the Gilda’s Club’s Grand Rapids clubhouse and took Kay on a tour of the facility.

My name is Jaime Counterman and I am happy to introduce myself as your new American Cancer Society Staff Partner for 2014.

While I am new to the Comstock Park event, I am not new to Relay; this will be my fourth season as an ACS staff partner and I love all things purple. I have been lucky enough to attend your event every year that I have worked at ACS, so I am thrilled that I get to work with you for my fourth Relay season along with the Relay events in Wyoming, Sparta and Lowell. I live in Sparta with my husband, our dog Riley and our soon to be first little girl (I am expecting on January 7, so I will be back with time to spare for Relay....you'd think I planned that or something.)

The company, which represents 100 family-run apple orchards and managers 700 of its own acres, has provided apples to pantries statewide since 1998; however this will be the first year Feeding American West Michigan has gathered fruit from Riveridge’s trees directly.

“Being good neighbors is really important to Riveridge,” said company president Don Armock. “Meeting our neighbors’ hunger needs is near and dear to the hearts of Riveridge as a company.”

Agricultural leaders are expecting a historic apple crop in Michigan this year, with a 30 million bushel yield. That’s 10 fold last year’s frost-stunted harvest. It’s been such a good year that many growers may not be able to pick the entire crop before the frost takes over. That’s where Feeding America West Michigan comes in.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Meijer) – Meijer, the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based supercenter chain, announced today that it is partnering with Priority Health, Michigan's leading health plan, to raise awareness and help customers obtain information regarding their options as open enrollment for health insurance begins under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

The Michigan-based entities have unveiled a Health Reform and You! website at http://www.meijer.com/aca and are also providing informational brochures for customers at 203 Meijer pharmacy locations in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.

Organizations in Kent, Ottawa and Muskegon counties are teaming up this week to encourage people to take the stairs.

Take the Stairs Week runs September 3 through September 6. The three-day campaign is meant to encourage people to become more physically active while saving energy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, graphic designs promoting healthy behavior have been shown to motivate stair users; that’s why Kendall College of Art and Design at Ferris State University created images for this campaign. Free color signs are available at the Heart of West Michigan United Way for businesses and organizations with escalators or elevators.

Starting Friday, August 2, seniors are welcome to visit the Howard Christian Nature Center (HCNC) to reap the health benefits of walking while enjoying nature.

The HCNC's Senior Stoll is about a mile long and slow-paced so participants can stop and enjoy the sights and sounds along the trail. Senior Stroll runs from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. every Friday through fall. No pre-registration is required but a donation of $4.50 is encouraged.

The HCNC is located at 16190 Red Pine Drive NE in Kent City. For more information, call (616) 675-3158 or visit www.lilysfrogpad.com.

SPARTA, Mich.-- Bring your lawn chairs to this family-friendly benefit at the Paul C. Miller Airport on July 20 and 21.

Witness seven classes of lawn mowers, racing with all cutting blades removed, clipping along at 50 mph and above. Who will cross the finish line first?

The gates at the airport open at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 20. The mowers start revving their engines at 5 p.m. It starts all over again on Sunday, July 21, when the gates open at 11:30 a.m. and the mowers begin moving at 1 p.m.

The Paul C. Miller Airport is located at 9100 Vinton Avenue. Proceeds from the race will go toward Huntington's Disease research and awareness programs. All race tickets are $5 at the gate; children ages 12 and under are free. Pit passes are available at the t-shirt tent for an additional $5.